1 GHS in the Context of National Chemical Management Programmes and Sustainable Development Peter J. Peterson Senior Special Fellow UNITAR Regional Workshop on Chemical Hazard Communication and GHS Implementation for Countries of ASEAN Manila, Philippines October 2005

2 GHS Basic Information Sectors: Industry, Agriculture, Transport, Consumer Products; Actors: Government, Industry, Civil Soc.; Activities: Legal & institutional structures Trade, classification/labels, SDS NGOs, health protection; Undertakings: transfer verified information for effective hazard communication

3 Use of GHS Information Raise awareness/understanding of hazard To transfer reliable information to users on evaluated chemicals and mixtures to ensure safe use, transport and disposal; Facilitate trade in chemicals whose hazard has been assessed internationally; GHS as a component of an integrated national chemical safety programme

4 Benefits of GHS Provides a framework for countries without chemical hazard communication system; Harmonizes national chemical hazard communication systems world-wide; Avoids duplication of testing & evaluating chemicals and chemical mixtures; Facilitates international trade; Protects people and the environment

5 GHS: Responsibilities of Countries Producing/exporting Countries: Generation/verification of hazard information on international basis plus SDS development; Compliance with importing country requests; Importing Countries/Users: Regulatory framework for safe use; Availability of information to all Actors; Awareness-raising/comprehensibility testing.

6 GHS Implementation Nationally Countries with advanced chemical management: possible actions –Direct implementation by 2008 –Perhaps emphasis on civil society/education Countries with less advanced chemical management: possible actions –Harmonization/development of national legislation –Emphasis on health protection for target population –Hazard communication understanding for all Actors

7 GHS and Chemicals Management: Possible National Approaches GHS implementation plus Commitments to a national integrated chemicals management; Commitments to apply MEAs: (Stockholm, Rotterdam, Basel Conventions etc.); Commitments to Regional initiatives: (Basel Convention Regional Centres); Commitments to ASEAN consensus building approaches; e.g. subject areas

8 International Agreements on Chemicals Substantive Concepts Basis for International Environmental Law Conventions Protocols Amendments GHS PRTR International Interest Groups Codes Recommendations Declarations Guidelines Principles Voluntary Agreements

9 Major International Agreements Involve a Mosaic of Chemicals Specific categories of chemicals (industrial & consumer chemicals, drugs) Specific processes (ozone-depletion) Specific actions (illegal trafficking) Single environmental milieu (air, marine) Destruction of health & environment (chemical weapons of mass destruction)

10 International Agreements: Hazardous Chemicals and Waste Århus Convention Basel Convention+++ Chemical Weapons FAO Code (revised) GHS ILO Convention 170+ (Regional Seas Conventions) ILO Convention 174+ Rotterdam Convention Stockholm Convention Vienna Convention ++ UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics (UNECEs LRTAP-POPs Protocol)

11 GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (1) GHS and Industry ILO Convention 170 and Recomm. 177 Responsibilities of authorities, suppliers, employees, workers; Classification systems: labelling, SDS; Specific measure for hazardous chemicals Information and training, emergencies; Monitoring and reporting.

12 GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (2) GHS and Agriculture FAO International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides (1989) Labelling, packaging, storage, disposal; Responsibilities of govt., industry, applicators etc FAO Guidelines on Good Labelling Practice for Pesticides Development of pictograms, hazard classification

13 GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (3) GHS & Agriculture (contd.) ILO Convention 184 and Recommendation 192 on Safety & Health in Agriculture Classification, packaging, labelling, information WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard & Guidelines to Classification Acute risk to health/hazard classification/toxicity; transportation rules/competent authorities

14 GHS in Relation to International Chemicals Agreements (4) GHS & Rotterdam Convention Information exchange characteristics of chemical Hazard identification/communication/ PIC Packaging/Labelling refers to Intern. Standards GHS & Stockholm Convention Information on hazardous properties of chemical Public information, awareness & education SAICM, ISO-standards, Chemical Weapons

15 GHS & International Chemicals Agreements Possible Criteria for Entry Points A search for common objectives 1. Linkages –Encouraging opportunities for co-operative actions; 2. Clustering –Establishing joint implementations of chemicals and waste MEAs: increases information flows/visibility; 3. Synergy –Co-operation of two or more initiatives to produce effects greater than the sum of individual effects: results in enhanced coherence of policies/strategies

16 1. Linkages: their Application Encouraging GHS linkages consistent with National Action Plans and Priorities derived from the National Profile; Awareness of GHS & chemical safety; Understanding of GHS issues & chemical safety: train target population on hazards; Avoidance of duplication of implementation e.g. Alignment of actions with trading partners

17 2. Clustering: Building-block Approach Clustering is grouping actions to produce a regime that addresses common concerns Clustering by function: integral functions –e.g. Reporting/Compliance assessment for related Conventions; Clustering of Stockholm/Basel Convention on POPs waste; Clustering by issue: thematic area/sectors –e.g. Trade-related GHS sectors & all actors

18 3. Synergies at Different Levels Synergy for chemicals management can take place at different levels: from a low level to a high levelLow Information exchange Inter-ministerial coordination Partial integration Complete integration High

19 GHS Within Chemicals Management: Links, Clusters & Synergies Summary Linkages of GHS with International Chemicals Agreements helps build technical, industrial & institutional capacity and capabilities; Clusters of actions between GHS and International Chemical Agreements can produce policy coherence; Synergies between GHS & International Chemicals Agreements can build an effective national chemicals management programme

20 GHS & Sustainable Development UN Millennium Development Goals Task Force emphasized the process of integrating principles of SD into all policies: Goal 7, refers: ‘ensure environmental sustainability’; Recommendation 5 Reduce exposure to toxic chemicals/vulnerable groups stressed, i.e. women, children, the poor; Improve frameworks for chemicals management; Recommendation 9 Public awareness campaigns

21 GHS & Sustainable Development Linkages GHS addresses Recommendation 5 and 9 of MDG 7, being a practical inclusive tool mainstreaming commitments to SD; GHS is increasingly seen as an essential feature of the development process. GHS with its hazard awareness system, communication & educational component is a major driver of chemical safety;

22 Conclusions GHS within an integrated chemicals management regime can lead to more effective national and global chemicals & waste governance; GHS in coordination with International Chemicals Agreements, whether via linkages, clusters or synergies, increases political & civil visibility & is an essential component for achieving MDGs and SD.